Twenty years ago, the first degree programmes in childhood education were established at German universities. The profession of childhood educator focuses on family and public education, upbringing, and care during childhood; the social environments, cultures, and living conditions of children and their families; and collaboration with families.

Since 2009, the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences has offered a degree program in childhood education and receive a state-recognized degree in childhood education.

The 20th anniversary of the childhood education degree programmes was celebrated on September 19–20, 2024, at the Alice Salomon University of Applied Sciences in Berlin, together with organizations active in childhood education practice, education policy stakeholders, graduates, students, specialists and instructors working in training and continuing education, and university representatives on September 19–20, 2024, at Alice Salomon University of Applied Sciences in Berlin. The conference was organized by the Early Childhood Education Program, the Federal Working Group on Education and Upbringing in Early Childhood (Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft Bildung und Erziehung in der Kindheit e.V.), the Early Childhood Education Commission of the DGfE (PdfK), and the German Professional Association for Childhood Education. Prof. Dr. phil. habil. Andrea G. Eckhardt (PdfK) served as a member of the conference’s scientific steering committee.

As early as May 30, 2024, the Evangelical University of Dresden, Mittweida University of Applied Sciences, the University of Zittau/Görlitz, the University of Leipzig, and the Breitenbrunn University of Cooperative Education celebrated the anniversary of childhood education degree programmes in Saxony at a joint event organized by the Saxony regional group of the Degree Program Day.